By Brandon Corlette at Providence
Nicholas Pooran continued his purple patch with the bat with a scintillating 67 to help West Indies go 2-0 in the five-match T20 International series against India.
In the match played at Providence under steaming sunshine, and watched by more than 2000 fans, West Indies encountered some hiccups in their chase of 153, but ended with a two-wicket win, heading into the third T20I at Providence on Tuesday.
In the chase of 153, West Indies lost Brandon King for a golden duck. Hardik Pandya continued his eventful over when he removed Johnson Charles caught at cover, at 2-2. Pooran came and survived a leg-before shout early and Kyle Mayers got another start, but made only 15.
The home crowd was left in shock, as West Indies were 32-3 in 3.4 overs. Pooran, who is in red-hot form, played some clean strokes, and destroyed Ravi Bishnoi in an 18-run over. Pooran and Rovman Powell (21) added 57 runs together after the early collapse.
In the process, Pooran reached his fifty from 29 balls. Resounding applause from more than 2000 fans had the Stadium rocking as Shimron Hetmyer made an entrance. He survived a close call early in his innings, but he played supportive role to Pooran.
After stroking six delightful fours and four dismissive sixes, Pooran was caught at cover for 67 from 40 balls, and West Indies were 126-5, with 27 needed from 36 balls. His wicket sparked a collapse; Shepherd was run out for a duck, Holder was stumped for a duck, and Hetmyer was trapped leg-before for a run-a-ball 22.
West Indies were 129-8 after 16 overs. Akeal Hosein (16*) and Alzarri Joseph (10*) took West Indies across the line after Joseph broke the ice with a six in the penultimate over off Mukesh Kumar. West Indies won by eight wickets and seven balls to spare.
Pandya was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3-35 from his four overs.
Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat first. Bishnoi replaced Kuldeep Yadav, who was struck on the hand during a net session on the eve of the match. Obed McCoy began proceedings and he was spot on giving away only one run.
Hosein was thumped for a six first ball he bowled, but Joseph induced Shubman Gill (07) into a false shot. The Guyanese fans gave a loud cheer as Hetmyer claimed the catch. A brilliant run-out by Mayers ensured the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav was back in the hut with India being reduced to 19-2 after four overs.
West Indies bowlers kept it tight and India reached 34-2 at the end of the powerplay. Hometown boy Shepherd was slammed for six by Ishan Kishan (27), but the next ball, he cleaned up the southpaw, hitting the top of the off stump. At the half-way stage, India were 65-3.
On the slow Providence surface, the West Indies seamers used cutters and slower balls to good effect. Twenty-year-old Tilak Varma looked comfortable, playing some classy strokes and he was given a chance on 25. Shepherd was the culprit at short fine-leg as the ball burst through his hands.
Varma then reached his fifty in 39 balls. One run later, he was removed by the steady Hosein. The left-arm spinner was animated in his celebration, signalling to the fans at Providence, “blocking the noise.”Pandya struck a big hit onto the media box, but the impressive Joseph produced a good yorker to shatter his stumps at 129-6 in 18 overs. While it was not a dominant day for India, they managed 152-7 in 20 overs. Shepherd, Joseph and Hosein ended with two wickets each.
The third T20I will be played at the same venue from 10:30h local time.